Vulcanizing running length of composite rubber strip and apparatus therefor



May 11, 1943. H. DE WYK, JR

VULCANIZING RUNNING LENGTH OF COMPOSITE RUBBER STRIP AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Q4 ATTORNEY M y 1943- H. DE WYK, JR 2,319,042

VULCANIZING RUNNING LENGTH OF COMPOSITE RUBBER STRIP AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L. H. DE K, JR 2,319,042 VULCANIZING RUN G G 0F COMPOSITE RUBBER STRIP APPARA S THEREFO Filed Oct. 18, 1940 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 11, 1943.

May- 11, 1943. L. H. DE WYK. JR 2,319,042

ANIZING RUNNING LENGTH OF COMPOSITE R ST BBE RIP AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 18, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented May 11, 1943 VULCANIZING RUNNING LENGTH OF COM- POSITE RUBBER STRIP AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Ludolf H. De Wyk, Jr., Ansonia, Conn, assignor to The Sponge Rubber Products Company, Shelton, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 18, 1940, Serial No. 361,662

21 Claims.

This invention relates to processes, methods and apparatus for producing a composite vulcanized rubber product of single or multiple elongated strip-like nature and unlimited length which may consist of a uniformly vulcanized body or core of cellular or sponge rubber wholly or partially sheathed within and bonded to. a uniformly vulcanized outer covering skin of solid or non-porous rubber.

United States Patent No. 2,200,262, granted May 14, 1940, explains the practical impossibility of producing uniform vulcanization of a sponge rubber strip of unlimited length by intermittently subjecting sections of its length to successive applications of vulcanizing heat in a stationary mold, while adjoining sections of its length are notsubjected simultaneously to an equal application of vulcanizing heat. In that patent a method is disclosed and claimed which ber or synthetic rubber which are deficient in toughness and tensile strength.

The present improvements involve combinations of steps, as well as combinations of apparatus useful but not in all cases essential to the performance of said steps, for preparing transporting and delivering vulcanizable materials such as unvulcanized rubber stock and compounds, of respectively different kinds, to the same constantly traveling mold section and preferably as a continuous process. These steps may involve not only an extrusion process explained in the aforesaid U. S. Patent No. 2,200,262 and also in a copending application divisional therefrom, Serial No. 333,974 filed May 8, 1940, now Patent No. 2,315,366 but also involve in conjunction therewith a calendering process explained in the said patents and further explained in another copending application, Serial No. 158,468, filed August 11, 1937, now Patent No. 2,218,527.

One object of the invention herein claimed is to predetermine and to protect from accidental distortion a desired irregular cross-sectional shape of a continually generated and continually fed strip of sponge rubber compound while preventing such strip from accidentally overturning or diverting from proper disposition and path of travel while advancing on its way to a traveling mold cavity of corresponding irregular crosssectional shape. In the case of a cross sectional mold shape whose lengthwise extension forms a pocket-like groove so disposed that a corresponding ridge-like bead on and lengthwise of the traveling strip of compound would find it diflicult to enter and fill such groove during the process of blowing" or expanding (which precedes final vulcanization of an expansible compound) the bead must ride into occupational relationship to the groove as the strip is progressively delivered onto the traveling mold section.

A further object of the invention is to prepare and deliver to cavities in lower or underlying traveling mold sections, which are later to be roofed over as they travel for completing the enclosure of a traveling mold chamber, a strip of compound so shaped in cross section and so positioned in relation to such chamber that a minimum amount of flow or displacement of its bulk is required in order to reach and fill allparts of the irregularly shaped mold chamber when the compound expands therein.

A further object is to introduce, along with such strip of sponge rubber compound, a skin material in thin sheet form composed of nonblowable unvulcanized rubber, and more particularly a skin material in the form of a wide thin sheet or web underlying and traveling in i unison with a plurality of strips of sponge rubber compound, all simultaneously generated and advancing lengthwise side by side.

A further object is to introduce into the traveling mold chambers along with the sponge rubber strips a similar skin material overlying and traveling in unison with a plurality of the simultaneously generated and side-by-side traveling strips of sponge rubber compound.

A further object is to introduce progressively intd the traveling mold cavities along with the plural strips of sponge rubber compound both an underlying sheet and an overlying sheet of the said non expansible or solid unvulcanized rubber, and in a manner to cause both of said overlying and underlying sheets or webs to unite along lines which extend in the direction of web travel and which lie respectively between the side-by-side traveling strips of sponge rubber compound. This forms a completely enveloping exterior sheath or skin around each of the sideby-side sponge rubber strips however irregular.

may be their individual cross sectional shapes.

A further object is to prevent stretching or wrinkling of the said sheets or webs as a result of the necessary initial looseness and considerable width of the described upper and/or lower thin skin-forming materials. Wrinkling must be prevented both at the point of intake into the traveling mold chambers and while the sheet I material is being progressively pressed into conformity with the irregular contours of the walls of the mold chambers by the expansion of the strips of sponge rubber compound which become wrapped within the sheet material of said.

webs just preceding vulcanization.

Still another object is to support. guide and convey a large number of irregularly shaped strips of compound while they are closely posi-. tioned side by side all the way from the extrusion orifices at which they are generated to their point of delivery to the mold cavities, and to convey such strips in proper relation to the upper and/or lower traveling webs of the skin forming material and in proper relation to be received therewith into the traveling mold cavities.

Another and important object is to protect the continually indrawn sponge rubber core material and the solid rubber skin materials from being pinched or ruptured by the action of an articulated endless chain of upper mold sections as such sections progressively swing down and bite together in joining an underlying traveling train of mold sections.

The foregoing and related objects are achieved by methods and processes which may, or may not utilize a particular apparatus explained in th following description having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 represents in side view the full length of a multiple continuous strip vulcaniaing machine associated end-to-end with strip and web generating and feeding apparatus usable in practicing the improved methods and processes of the present invention.

Fig. 2 reproduces on an enlarged scale the right end portion of Fig. 1 showing fuller details of the apparatus which generates the strips and the webs.

Fig. 3 reproduces on a scale corresponding to Fig. 2 a central portion of Fig. 1 showing fuller details of the work receiving end of the vulcanizing machine and the cooperative apparatus which feeds combined strips and web thereto.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of Fig. 3 at the process station indicated by 9-9.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken through several of the constantly advancing strips of unvulcanized sponge rubber compound at the stage in the process indicated by section plane 5-5 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view at the stage in the process indicated by 6-6 in Fig. 3 showing the lower web delivered to the top surface of traveling lower mold sections and the strips passing through separating and straightening comb teeth.

' Fig. 7 similarly shows at stage 1-1 in Fig. 3 the' restoration of the separated and straightened strips to traveling support by the lower web.

Fig. 8 similarly shows at stage 8-8 in Fig. 3 the traveling upper web and cellophane ribbons about to join the advancing strips.

Fig. 9 similarly shows both the advancing webs and strips at stage 9-9 in Fig. 3 after they have passed under a special form of squeezing roller.

Fig. 10-similarly shows the webs with strips sandwiched therebetween still advancing in unison at the stage in the process indicated at i0- III in Fig. 3 where the upper traveling mold sections close downward onto the lower traveling mold sections.

Fig. 11 similarly shows the upper traveling mold sections closed fully down in relation to the lower traveling mold sections at stage lI-ll in Fig. 3 thus closeting therebetween both the webs and the strips, which latter have started to blow" or expand from the eil'ects of heat.

Fig. 12 shows the still traveling'mold chamberscompletely filled by the fully expanded and now fully vulcanized skin-covered sponge rubber strips at the stage in the process indicated at |2|2 in FIG. 1.

Fig. 13 reproduces on a greatly enlarged scale the Junction of the Joined edges of two adjacent vulcanized strips in Fig. 12 and portions of upper and lower mold sections by which they are confined.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the extruder drawn on an enlarged scale and taken partly in section on the plane H-ll in Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view looking downward on Fig. 6 showing the straightening of the advancing strips as they pass between comb teeth.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on th plane Iii-i6 in Fig. 10 drawn on a still larger scale looking in the direction of the arrows showing the danger of pinching of the fed-in materials by the biting corners of the upper mold sections.

Fig. 17 is a corresponding view taken in section on plane ll-l'i in Fig. 11 showing the corners of the upper mold sections swung into closer proximity withoutpinching the work.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view of one quadrant of the face of the extruding die looking in the direction of the arrows from plane IB-ll in Fig. 14.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a portion of Fig. 3 showing certain parts in section at the combing station indicated by 6-.

The continuous strips and webs of the differ-- ing materials upon which are practiced the methods and processes of this invention originate at co-related strip and web generating stations. In the herein shown example of the present improved methods and processes, the traveling unvulcanized strips are composed of sponge rubber compound and the traveling unvulcanized webs are thin, wide, ribbon-like sheets oi. vulcanizable rubber free from blowing agents that would cause it to expand when being vulcanized. A given cross sectional size of the material of these would be the same cross sectional size of the sponge rubber compound of the strips.

While the present improved methods and processes contemplate a variety of means or apparatus by which the described strips and webs may be generated, conveyed and delivered to a processing or vulcanizing machine simultaneously and at equal speeds of linear travel, there is shown herein for purposes of illustration certain apparatuses whose details are more fully disclosed in other patents and copending applications which are herein elsewhere referred to. In such apparatus as is shown scantily herein, a suitable web generating calender 9 may include a frame i0 which supports bearings for an upper set ll of calender rolls and a lower set l2 of similar calender rolls, which sets of rolls generate, respectively, the upper traveling web i3 and the lower traveling web I. One of these two sets of rolls is vertically spaced above the other set so as to cause the upper and lower webs to leave the calendering machine 9 simultaneously in vertically separated relationship. This peraeraoea mits the continuous traveling strips ll of sponge rubber compound, which originate at an extruding station spaced to the right of the calendering machine in Fig. 1, to approach the calenderin station and pass freely between *the upper and lower sets I I and I2 of calender rolls and thus some to ride away from the calendering machine toward the left in Fig. 2 supported upon the lower traveling web. At this point strips 81 are spaced below and free from contact with the upper traveling web l3. Both sets of rolls Ii, i2 are rotated at such speed by power transmitted thereto in part by a large'slowly moving gear 68 that a like linear speed of travel is imparted to both webs I 3 and I. These webs constitute respectively the calendered forms of supply bullrs I5 and I 6 of unvulcanized rubber which as before stated is free from gas gen'eratir'ig agents that would cause it to blow or ,expand in the vulcanizing process.

The strips ll of sponge rubber compound originate simultaneously in longitudinally traveling form at the head id of an extruding machine whose hollow body i9 is supplied constantly, or as often as necessary, with replenishing charges or slugs 'of the sponge rubber compound which may be arranged end-to-end to slide down an inclined chute 49 into the extruder. At a dustlug station or compartment in extrusion head i8, a'lubricative powder is applied manually or automatically to all exterior surfaces of all of the strips I! just as they issue from their forming orifices 29 in head i8. After passing out of the dusting compartment through oversize guide apertures in its face wall 25, the dusted strips sag downward whereby they present enough loose length to permit handling and inspection by an attendant before they pass on to the up wardly inclined endless conveyor belt 2t. The attendant is given ample time and opportunity in assist the strips in arranging themselves in side-by-side spaced relationship as they pass between stationary separator pins 58 spaced apart in a transversely extending row and advance toward conveyor 26. At the same time the attendant can manually, as with a brush, complete or perfect the dusting of the passing strips if desirable, whereupon belt 26 carries away the lubricated strips of compound, which ride lengthwise on this belt and side-by-side. Thus convcyed by belt 25, the strips I? reach a point on a level with the lower web is and spaced below the upper web it of the skin forming unvulcanized rubber as these two Webs are simultaneously leaving the calender 9. Here strips it are played off from conveyor belt 26 and received onto the top surface of the traveling lower web it. The linear speed of travel of strips if is like the linear speed of travel of webs i3 and it and is so maintained by imparting rotary speed from a'source of power, (not shown) to one of the conveyor pulleys 21 or 27' which impel belt 25. Proper rotary speed is also imparted from a source, not shown, to gear wheels such as 28 which transmit power to an extruding screw M or other suitable mechanism within the extruder body i9 which acts to force the sponge rubber compound out from the extruder through the aforesaid extrusion orifices 29 and dusting compartment guide apertures in the head l8. Thus there is simultaneously generated plural strips ll as shown, or any much larger number of strips depending on the number of orifices.

Where many orifices are involved it is considered best to dispose them in a circular series as shown in Fig. 18. y

At the left of the calendering machine 8 in Fig.. 1 there are two endless traveling conveyor belts and 3|. Onto the upper belt 30 is progressively pulled the upper traveling web l3 after v the strips ll of compound which are riding side by side thereon as shown in Fig. 5.

Farther along at a combing station, the strips ll of compound. depart temporarily from web I and pass over a crosswise disposed comb bar 33 and between spaced separating pins 31 upstanding therefrom at about the point where web it is being played off from its lower conveyor belt 3|. lower web M, which up to this point has been supporting the strips I1, is permitted to sag and thereby pass under the comb bar 36 and is thereby played directly downward into contact with the upper surface of a traveling lower mold plate which is about to enter the processing or vulcanizing machine. Beyond this combing station the mold section supported traveling lower web id is rejoined by the traveling strips I! which in passing between comb pins 31 have become straightened out and evenly spaced for registering lengthwise and respectively with'continuous strip receiving mold cavities 38 in the traveling mold plate 39, although separated therefrom by the intervening web it. This step in the process is better illustrated in Figs. 6 and 15, and further explained hereinafter.

At a station further along in the process, the upper traveling web i3 is played downward off from the upper conveyor belt 30, on which belt up to this point it has been riding at a relatively high level, and is received against ,the lobed peripheral surface of a presser roller 60 and passes a quarter way round and under the latter being thus pressed somewhat against the tops of the traveling strips W as the latter and their underlying lower web it ride together toward the left and pass under roller 4b in Fig. 1 supported upon the cavity grooved top surfaces of lower traveling mold sections 29. This traveling joindure of the upper web i3 with strips i'i takes place at 8-8 in Fig. 3, as illustrated on a large scale in Fig. 4 and further described hereinafter.

. Ahead of roller 40 in the line of travel of the rubber webs and strips there is received between roller Q0 and the upper web i 3 a series of laterally spaced continuous ribbons M of Cellophane or other tough, thin, flexible, slippery, heat resistive material. The spacing of these ribbons is determined by intervening guide projecting partitions which separate guide notches cut in a cross bar 46 fixed crosswise on the. machine frame. Ribbons ii are drawn off from their respective separate spools such as 42, only two of which are shown in Fig. 3, and which are rotatably mounted on frame carried stud shafts l3. Lightfriction constantly opposes the turning of these spoos to keep the Cellophane ribbons yieldingly taut.

After'all of these traveling continuous lengths of materials, including the strips i1, webs I3 and i4 and the Cellophane ribbons I, have passed in But at this same combing station theunison under roller II, as shown in Fig. 9, they come to the point ll-l I in Fig. 3 where the upper traveling mold sections 41 swing downward and Join the lower traveling mold sections 39 in a served their purpose of protecting the soft unvulcanized rubber materials from being pinched, stretched or torn by the biting corners or edges of the upper mold sections 41 during the movement of the latter from their relationin Fig. 16 to their relation in Fig. 17 as hereinafter more fully explained.

Whereas the general nature of the steps going to make up the present improvements in method and processing has been outlined in the foregoing, in actual practice particular problems and diillculties are encountered and have required solution for utilizing the described steps for their intended purpose. These problems arise in part from the difficulty which is inherent in establishing and maintaining properly accurate positioning of weak, soft, tacky strips of sponge rubber compound while very long stretches of the same are continually traveling together, and from the difficulty which is inherent in maintaining without distortion the original cross sectional shapes imparted to such strips at their extrusion orifices. While the skin-forming rubber material of the upper and lower webs i3 and I4 is tougher and more tenacious than that of the core strips l1 before vulcanization, the extreme thinness of these webs produces a strong tendency to wrinkle. This has been overcome in the present improvements even to an extent permitting simultaneous production of as many as twenty strips traveling side-by-side in unison while sandwiched between skin-forming webs which must be of very considerable width to overlie and underlie so large a quantity of core strips. Examples of methods which have successfully been resorted to for overcoming some of these difficulties may best be understood from a fuller consideration of the apparatus and performance of materials illustrated or diagrammed in the drawings.

For best results, the extruding machine IS incorporates provision for cooling to selective degrees the faces of the extruding screw 2| which work against the sponge rubber compound and preferably by means of cold water reaching the hub portion of such screw through a valve controlled pipe such as 22. The chamber within body I 9, in which the bulk supply of sponge rubber compound is amassed, preferably is jacketed at I10. Such jacket sections may be heated by steam or cooled by water selectively passed through pipes such as 23 as best suits the temperature and the characteristics of the compound being worked with. By such means a proper size and consistency of many simultaneously extruded strips of sponge rubber compound is achieved. The extruding head i8 whose die is provided with the circular series of orifices 29 contains a centrally disposed cone-shaped deflector 52 which leads the screw impelled compound into an annular or ring-like space registering with the circular series of extrusion orifices. Back of this cone deflector the compound is caused to travel through stationary apertures '83 distributed over the area of a partition wall I! which breaks up the churning action that otherwise would be imparted to the plastic mass of compound by the rotary action of the extruding screw. This treatment of the material in the extruding machine results in producing many neighboring endless strips I! of sponge rubber, compound from the same extrusion chamber simultaneously, all of uniform density and of full sized accurate cross sectional shape. The preferred disposition of the die orifices on the circle is indicated in Fig. 18.

As these strips pass through the dusting chamber 25,1lnely powdered lubricant which is capable of dissipating under vulcanizing heat, such as zinc stearate, is blown violently against them from all directions, their exterior surfaces becoming completely covered therewith. The powdered lubricant may be applied by hand as with a brush and in that case the chamber 25 with its wall 25 may be omitted. The zinc stearate or other lubricant applied to strips ll, because of its ability to dissipate or become absorbed into the substance of the rubber materials which are being vulcanized, does nothing to impair the strength and perfection of the bonding of strips I! to their covering skin as hereinafter described. For replenishing the bulk supply of sponge rubber compound within the extruder body iii, an inclined chute 49 feeds through an opening 11 into the top of the extruder body. Down this chute, end-toend slugs 20 of the sponge rubber compound may slide-or be pushed as needed for replenishing the contents of the extruder.

With further reference to the processing station where the skin forming webs l3 and H are calendered and sent upon their journey to accompany the traveling strips of sponge compound, a mere duplication of the single sheet of calender rolls whose construction is more fully represented in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,218,527

will suflice to generate simultaneously and in vertically separated relationship the upper and lower webs i3 and ll whose thickness will be determined by the independently variable spacing of the two rolls in each of the sets H and I 2, while the width of each traveling web may be rendered uniform and of any selected dimension by the usual form of cutting or edge trimming knives bearing against the surface of one of the rolls as disclosed in the last said patent, which knives need not herein be shown.

The side-by-side strips ll of sponge rubber compound ride along supported upon the lower traveling web I4 of skin-forming, unvulcanlzed solid rubber as the said strips and web are thus conveyed in unison towardthe left by the endless belt 3l in Fig. 1, it being noted in Fig. 15, that irregular spacing of the not necessarily straight strips may be present at this point in their travel. If it is not desired that strips I! shall ride in contact with lower web H! at the stage of their travel represented in Fig. 5, an additional conveyor belt may be interposed between the upper belt 30 and the lower belt 3| for the sole-purpose of supporting and conveying the strips I! at a higher level than web I4 and separated therefrom. But it is a convenience and permits simplification of the apparatus to use the lower web I! as a supporting conveyor for the strips I! from the calender 9 to the left end of belt 3| vsvzhich is supported by the elongated power pulley The right end of belt 3| is supported by an idler roller or pulley 32'. Power to rotate pulley 32 is transmitted to its shaft 33 by means of a drive chain 34 and sprocket wheel 35 fixed on shaft 33.

This same frame work also supports additional bearings at a higher and common level for three shafts 54, 55 and 53 which carry respectively the elongated pulley 51 and the support rollers 58 and 59. All of these cooperate in the support of an endless conveyor belt 30 which is impelled by pulley 51. Shaft 55 carries a sprocket wheel 80 engaged by and serving to drive chain 34. Shaft 55 further carries another sprocket wheel 6| fixed to rotate in unison with sprocket wheel 60 and driven by a chain 62 which is impelled by a sprocket wheel 63 fast on shaft 54. Shaft 64 further carries fixed thereon the sprocket wheel 64 which by means of chain 65 is driven from a power sprocket wheel 66 on the power shaft 61 of the vulcanizing machine 48.

In Figs. 1 and 3 is represented a dusting box 86 through which the lower reach of conveyor belt 3! passes. Since this box contains powdered mica or a like powdered form of lubricant which is permanent non dissipative and immune to heat and the belt 3| is constantly passing through this mica dust, the surfaces of belt 3| becomes progresslvely coated therewith so that in riding along upon belt 3|, the lower web-l4 of skin-forming unvulcanized rubber picks up and becomes dusted with this powdered mica. A more even and thorough coating of the mica will be transferred to web i4 from belt 3! if the latter is vibrated or beat upwardly while web I 4 rests thereon as by a power driven rotary agitator 81. Thus only the lower surface of the lower web i4 becomes coated with the powdered mica, soapstone or other permanent lubricant which will insure the web creeping freely along the hot mold surfaces as the web is stretched into full conformity with the mold cavity by blowing of the core of sponge rubber compound without adhering in spots which might result in pitting on the exterior surface of the vulcanized product. The upper surface of upper Web 3 should be dusted with simi-' lar substance for a similar purpose as it advances while riding upon the conveyor belt 30.

Further particulars of the manner in which power shaft 61 operates the vulcanizing machine will be clear from reference to the aforesaid copending applications, Serial Nos. 279,701 and 158,468, now Patent Nos. 2,292,366 and 2 ,218,527, respectively, it sufficing here to state that under power transmitted through shaft 61 the lower mold sections 39 in unison with the upper mold sections 47 travel in endless procession through a zone of vulcanizing heat within the vulcanizing machine 48. In so doing, they are supported and guided by mechanisms disclosed in greater detail in a copending application, Serial No. 111,769, new Patent No. 2,288,611.

In all of the aforesaid copending applications, the lower mold sections of the vulcanizing machine form an exposed traveling platform in which these lower mold sections closely abut endto-end as they travel toward the heat zone of the vulcanizing machine. leads to the point where the lower mold sections are joined by the upper traveling mold sections. A manner in which this traveling platform may This traveling platform plate-like mold sections is fully set forth in the aforesaid U. 8. Patent No. 2,292,366. Main parts of the apparatus are herein represented in Figs. 1 and 2, and will require no detailed description here other than to explain that .these large platelike lower mold sections 39 become successively returned to an automatic elevator If one by one, as they are transferred from the work discharging end of the vulcanizing machine, by another elevator ll onto an inclined roller trackway 13. After coasting down this trackway onto the elevator 12, the latter lifts each mold section in turn to the level of the traveling platform before referred to. The circuitous travel of lower and upper mold sections is indicated respectively by arrows L and U in Fig. 1. Elevator 12 carries a pneumatically operated pusher 14 which automatically initiates the departure of the mold section ofl from the elevator and toward the left in Fig. 2 and thereby delivers the mold section to the impelling drive of feed-up gears 15 which act on the rack-toothed edges of the mold section to thrust the leading end of the latter into abutting contact with the trailing end of the mold section which is preceding it and approaching the vulcanizing machine. Thus for all practical purposes, a-crackless and continually traveling platform composed of successive abutting mold sections is constantly progressing toward the vulcanizing machine along the roller bed 16. Onto this traveling platform the strips i1 and their underlying web M are deposited as they are played oil from the left end of conveyor belt 3!. Chamfered collars on a rotating cross shaft 80 make certain that each mold plate 39 assumes accurate lateral alignment. The unvulcanized traveling strips I! pass freely under this shaft.

Fig. 6 shows the before described comb pins correcting the arbitrary, irregular spacing of strips l'l into uniform spacing so that these strips will be straight and exactly overlie the cavity grooves 38 in the lower mold sections 36 as they arrive in accurate register therewith. Fig. 19 further shows the lower web i4 passing under the comb bar 36 while the strips ll ride over said bar and between the pins 31. In Fig. 6 the web I4 has drooped practically into contact with the upper surface of the lower mold sections and intervenes between the latter and the strips i'l.

After thus being straightened and uniformly spaced by comb pins 31 the strips H are held from fully entering the lower mold section cavity be composed of very long and very wide rigid is seen to sag slightly into the mold cavity under the weight of its thus supported sponge rubber strip. I

Fig. '1 shows but little changed the positional relationship of the strips and lower web, the latter possibly yielding somewhat more than in Fig. 6 as it becomes slightly softened by the heat of the mold section on which it rests, thus allowing the bead or ridge of the sponge rubber strip which overlies the mold cavity to sink a little further into the latter. It will be understood that the mold sections 39 in the exposed. traveling platform remain hot from the effects of their former travel through the vulcanizing machine.

Fig. 8 shows the upper skin-forming web I3 traveling down toward the sponge rubber strips after being played off from upper conveyor belt 30 and also shows just above this upper web continuous ribbons 4 Iv of Cellophane which are about to be added to the materials which will-pass to gether into the vulcanizing machine.

In Fig. 9 all of the materials shown in Fig. 8

have passed under the lobed surface of a freely rotatable presser roller 4' and have thereby been squeezed somewhat downward in a manner to force the beaded section of the sponge rubber strips more fully into the lower mold section cavities. This is permitted by a still further sagging and stretching of the lower web l4 but is so gentle as not to rupture the latter at any point. Also in Fig. 9 it will be observed that the upper web l3 has been forced into an undulating form of cross section such that it contacts or nearly contacts with the lower web i4 along continuous furrows separating the adjacent sponge rubber strips. Thus the upper web and lower web Jointly have nearly been converted by progressively applied external pressure into a sheath or skin almost entirely encasing each sponge rubber strip l1 without tearing either of the upper and lower webs at any point. a

In Fig. 10 a further deformation of the cross sectional shape of each sponge rubber strip. is seen to have resulted from the prolonged softening effect of the heat of the traveling lower mold on which all of the materials are riding. This deformation consists in a further sinking of the lower web l4 and its supported head or ridge-like section of the sponge rubber strip l1 into the obliquely disposed mold cavity groove. Fig. 10 also shows one of the upper mold sections 41 swinging downward to join the lower traveling mold section.

In Fig. 11 the upper mold section has moved into its position to closet the mold chamber fully and in so doing each mold ridge 8i between adjacent cavities 82 acts to squeeze the upper web l3 into assured and firm contact with the lower web i4 along a continuous line separating each pair of the sponge rubber strips I'l. These strips now become core bodies i! completely covered by surface skin 44 composed of the conjoined unvulcanized solid rubber material of the upper and lower webs. In this squeezing together action of the upper and lower webs between the upper and lower mold sections the comers of the upper sections perform a biting action but are prevented from digging into and tearing the thin sheet-like material of either web by the tough, nonadhesive and antifrictional substance and surface character of the Cellophane ribbons 4|. The upper web is in particular need of this protection or armoring by the Cellophane ribbons as is plain from Figs. 16 and 17 where the tendency of the upper skin to bulge into the angle gap and become bitten, pinched or torn by the leading corner of the descending upper mold section is represented. Upon encountering the tough slippery surface of the Cellophane, this corner of the mold section is enabled to displace the upper web out of its path by slipably wiping against the Cellophane ribbon without pinching or digging into it. The Cello phane ribbon itself is prevented from bowing upward into a position to become pinched between successive mold sections by the tension under which it is maintained by the hereinbefore mentioned friction opposing the play-off of ribbon H from spools 42.

In Fig. 12 the materials illustrated in Fig. 10 have traveled for a long enough time within the heat zone of the vulcanizing chamber to expand the completely ensheathed sponge rubber compound of the core strips I! so that it forces the stretchable skin 44 of non-blowing sheet rubber stock into full and exact conformity with the interior surfaces of the mold chamber. Before this condition attains, however, there has continually existed throughout the length of the traveling molds as far backward in their travel as station 0-8 in Fig. 3, not only the spaces between skin forming webs l8. l4 and the mold surface indicated as 82 and 38 in Fig. 11. but also sufficient survival of the original spaces between such skin forming webs and the inner core of sponge rubber compound, indicated as 84 and 85 in Fig. 8, to successfully give outlet to air and to gases resulting from the heat treatment of the sponge rubber compound thus to prevent such air or gases from becoming trapped and impairing the perfection of the bonding of the rubber covering skin to the sponge rubber core. In this condition allof the rubber materials become vulcanized into permanent shape by equal and uniform application of heat to every portion of the unlimited length of the vulcanized product. The finished product will be released from the mold chambers as are the vulcanized strips illustrated in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,200,262 at the work discharge end of the vulcanizing machine 48. During vulcanizing, the Cellophane ribbons become in no way bonded to the rubber material against which they are pressed and will separate themselves, or are easily stripped off, from the fully vulcanized product as it is freed by the mold sections as indicated near the left end of Fig. 1. In form, the vulcanized product resulting from the shapes of cavity and the kinds of raw materials disclosed in Figs. 6 to 12 will constitute a connected series of easily compressible resilient strip-like bodies having a cellular rubber interior or core I1 completely surfaced by an imperforate, solid, thin, tough rubber skin 44 bonded by vulcanization inseparately at all points to the sponge rubber core. These flexible resilient striplike bodies are joined by an almost infinitesimally small connecting tissue 18 composed of the vulcanized solid rubber of the skin 44. But this is so minute and delicate that the strip-like bodies are easily separated by severing said tissue along this weak and only line of joindure. Little or no trace of fins is left when the tissues are cut by laterally spaced fixedly stationed razor blades 83 as the vulcanized product is drawn past same as fully described in the above mentioned patent.

The action of the apparatus and materials just described overcomes problems of surface scars which would be likely to result from pockets of trapped gas if the expansion of the sponge rubber compound were alone depended upon to force the skin and its core of compound into remote extremities of cavity pockets such as the lower extremity of the obliquely disposed cavity groove 38. Attention is called to Fig. 10 in this connection which shows that the original cross sectional shape of the strips I! has been physically distorted before expansion begins and in a manner to force the compound and the material of the lower skin-forming web a good part of the way into its cavity groove before expansion of the compound begins. The expansion therefore is required only to complete the work of filling the cavity by approximately similar degrees of enlargement of the mass in all directions, instead of being required to force particular portions of the mass relatively long distances into the extremity of a deep recess.

It has hereinbefore been intimated that certain of the various steps of the present methods may be eliminated or modified without impairing the usefulness of others of the steps. Also it should be understood that the lower web l4 may be eliminated and only the upper web it used or the upper web l3 may be eliminated and only the lower web M used, in either of which cases the skin will fail to envelope the sponge rubber core completely and will constitute a mere facing but will be as inseparably bonded to the sponge rubber body as is the completely enveloping skin 44. The strips of sponge rubber compound may be generated other than by extruding, for instance by any of the ways and means for producing and delivering such strips that are disclosed in the U. S. patents hereinbefore referred to. Hence the appended claims are intended to cover all substitutes and equivalents for the particular method steps and apparatus recited which fairly come within their terms;

What is claimed is:

1. The process of converting sponge rubber compound and non-blowable unvulcanized rubber into uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber having at least a partial skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, simultaneously withdrawing said compound and plural webs of said unvulcanized rubber from separate sources of supply thereof, progressively sandwiching said compound between said webs, progressively placing one of said webs on the exposed bottom-molding wall of an open traveling rigid mold section and placing said compound on said web, and placing the other web on said compound in a manner to cause said compound and websto travel in unison with said mold, thereafter progressively closing said mold with a rigid closure to form a molding chamber of fixed crosssectional shape and greater volumetric capacity than the combined volume of compound and webs placed therein and to enclose said compound and webs, and moving the mold and compound and webs through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound to fill the mold and force the webs respectively against said bottom wall of the traveling mold section and against said rigid closure thereby to vulcanize the compound and webs to bond the latter to the former as an inseparable skin in part conforming to said bottom wall and in part conforming to said rigid closure.

2. The method of producing an unlimited length of a uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strip covered externally at least partially with a uniformly vulcanized skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, simultaneously generating at neighboring stations and continually advancing therefrom in the same general direction a continuous length of uncured sponge rubber compound and at least one web of stretchable uncured non-blowable rubber stock, leading said strip into surface contact with said web at a point near said generating stations, progressively imprisoning said strip and web within a heated traveling mold chamber of fixed cross-sectional size greater than the cross sec tional size of said strip and web combined thereby to cause said compound to expand and to cause said web simultaneously to stretch and fill said chamber and simultaneously force said web into conformity with at least a portion of the chamber enclosing mold wall and to vulcanize said strip and web in bonded relationship as they travel in unison.

3. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a uniformly vulcanized skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, sandwiching one or more traveling strips of sponge rubber compound between traveling upper and lower webs of non-blowable rubber sock, progressively forcing said webs together until they join each other between said stri s along one or more lines extending in the direction of travel thereby to cause each of said strips to be completely enveloped by interjoined portions of said webs, progressively imprisoning said strips and interjoined webs within heated traveling mold chambers of greater size than said strips and webs combined thereby to cause said compound to expand and force said enveloping interjoined webs into conformity with the full size and shape of said mold chambers and to vulcanize said strips and webs in bonded relationship as they continue to travel in unison.

4. The process of converting sponge rubber compound and non-blowable unvulcanized rubber into uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber covered externally at least partially with a skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, simultaneously withdrawing a continuous strip of said compound and a continuous web of said non-blowable unvulcanized rubber from separate sources of supply at neighboring strip and web generating stations, progressively placing said strip against the top surface of said web at a point near said generating stations in the simultaneous travel of said strip and web away therefrom, progressively-placing said web on the exposed bottom molding wall of an open traveling rigid mold section in a manner to cause said compound and web to travel in unison with said mold, thereafter progressively closing said mold witha rigid closure to form a molding chamber of fixed cross-sectional shape and greater volumetric capacity than the combined volume of compound and web placed therein and to enclose said combined compound and web, and moving the mold and compound and web through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound to fill the mold and force the web of unvulcanized rubber against said bottom wall of the traveling mold section and vulcanize the compound and web to bond the latter to the former as an inseparable skin conforming in contour to said bottom molding wall.

5. The process of converting sponge rubber compound and non-blowable unvulcanized rubber into uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber cov-.

ered externally at least partially with a skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, simultaneously withdrawing a continuous strip of said compound and a continuous web of said non-blowable unvulcanized rubber from separate sources of supply at neighboring strip and web generating stations, progressively placing said web against the top surface of said strip at a point near said generating stations in the simultaneous travel of said web and strip away therefrom, progressively placing said compound on the exposed bottom molding wall of an open traveling rigid mold section in a manner to cause said compound and web to travel in unison with said mold, thereafter progressively closing said mold with a rigid closure to form a molding chamber of fixed cross-sectional shape and greatinseparable skin conforming in contour to said rigid closure.

6. Apparatus for converting a strip of sponge rubber compound and a web of imvulcaniaed rubber into a composite vulcanized strip having a sponge rubber body and a solid rubber facing, embodying in combination, means to produce simultaneously and continually at one generating station a traveling strip of sponge rubber compound having continuous unlimited length, means to convey said strip lengthwise away from said station, means to generate simultaneously at a neighboring station a traveling web of unvulcanized non-blowable rubber stock having continuous unlimited length, a conveyor operative to receive and transport said web away from said neighboring station and in the direction of travel of said strip, means to flex and Join said traveling web into wrapper-like conforming contact with said traveling strip at a point in the travel thereof, a continually traveling mold forming a traveling mold chamber, and means progressively and continually to feed said strip and said conforming web together into said mold chamber.

7. The method of vulcanizing a continuous running length of sponge rubber compound in bonded contact with a covering skin of gas impervious rubber, which includes the steps of, progressively feeding a continuous traveling web of gas impervious unvulcanized sheet rubber lengthwise into surface contact with at least one continuous lengthwise traveling strip of sponge rubber compound, imprisoning said web and strip progressively lengthwise while in face-toface contact within a lengthwise traveling elongated heated chamber, and maintaining freedom of the unvulcanized contacting faces of said sheet and strip to separate slightly all the way backward from the point where said sponge rubber strip ceases to blow and begins to vulcanize to the point of initial imprisonment of said sheet and strip within the said traveling chamber thereby to provide an outlet enabling gases to pass backwardly between said web and strip backward to a point of escape to the ambient air.

8. The method of producing unlimited lengths of a uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strip covered externally at least partially with a uniformly vulcanized skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, leading a traveling strip of uncured sponge rubber compound into surface contact with a traveling web of stretchable uncured non-blowable rubber stock, applying progressively to the exterior surface of said traveling strip which contacts with said traveling web a dissipative lubricative substance having the qualitles in this respect of zinc stearate to permit unimpaired bonding of said strip to said web, applying to the surface of. said web which is opposite its surface contacted by said strip a non-dissipative lubricative substance having the qualities in this respect of powdered mica, and progressively imprisoning said strip and web within a heated traveling mold chamber of greater size than said strip and web combined, thereby to cause said compound to expand and stretch said web sumciently to fill said chamber and force said web into conforniity with a portion of the chamber enclosing mold wall and to cause said strip and web to be vulcanized in bonded relationship as they 'travel in unison while said powdered mica prevents adhesion of said web to the surface of said heated traveling mold chamber.

9. In a process for converting spaced parallel stretchable webs of non-blowa'ble rubber into a skin for completely enveloping interior bodies of sponge rubber, the steps which include, placing said bodies between said webs, progressively indenting one web toward the other web while said strips are sandwiched therebetween in a a manner to cause a furrow in at least one of said webs between said strips thereby to bring a linear extent of one web into relatively closer proximity to the other web, further indenting said linear extent of one web sufllciently to cause it to join with the other web so that the joined webs completely intervene between adjacent strips of compound on opposite sides of said furrow, and holding said webs in contact along their said linear extent while a vulcanizing heat is applied to said webs and strips.

10. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized from said first station toward and past said second station, leading said web away from said second station in a path of travel beneath and paralleling the path of travel of said strips, depositing said traveling strips upon said traveling web and said traveling web upon the upward exposed face of a traveling mold, thereafter progressively roofing over said traveling mold to form a mold chamber larger than the combined volume of said strip and said web, and moving said chamber in unison with its contained web and strip through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound of said strips and thereby force said web and compound into conformity with the full size and shape of said mold chamber and to vulcanize and bond said web to said compoundas an inseparable skin.

' 11. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, generating one or more continuous strips of sponge rubber compound at a first station, generating a web of non-blowing vulcanizable rubber at a second station, leading said strips away from said first station toward and past said second station, leading said web away from said second station in a path of travel beneath and paralleling the path of travel of said strips, combing said strips to separate and straighten them while traveling, depositing said traveling strips upon said traveling web and said traveling web upon the upward exposed face of a traveling mold,

said mold chamber and to vulcanize and bond s35 web to said compound as an inseparable s 12. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, generating one or more continuous strips of-sponge rubber compound at a first station, generating separate vertically spaced webs at second and third stations respectively, leading said strips away from beneath and paralleling the path of travel of said 10 strips, leading the upper of said webs away from said third station and depositing said upper traveling web upon said traveling strips and depositing the latter upon said traveling lower web and depositing the latter upon the upward exposed l5 face of a traveling mold containing one or more cavities, thereafter progressively roofing over said traveling mold to complete a mold chamber larger than the combined volume of said strip and said web, and moving said chamber in unison with its contained webs and strip through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound of said strips and thereby force said webs and compound into conformity with the full size and shape of said mold chamber and to vulcanize and 5 bond said webs to said compound as an inseparable skin completely enveloping said strips.

13. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, generating one or more continuous strips of sponge rubber compound at an extruding station, generating separate vertically spaced webs at calendaring stations, leading said strips away from said extruding station toward and past said calendering stations in a path intermediate said vertically spaced webs, leading the lower of said webs away from said calendaring station in a path of travel beneath and paralleling the path of travel 9 of said strips, depositing said upper traveling web upon said traveling strips and depositing the latter upon said traveling lower web and depositing the latter upon the upward exposed face of a traveling mold containing one or more cavities, progressively forcing the upper web into close proximity to said lower web along one or more lines lying in the direction of web travel and intermediate said strips, thereafter progressively roofing over said traveling mold cavities with one or more closures in a manner to complete mold chambers respectively larger than the combined volumes of said strips and webs, and moving. said chambers in unison with their respectively contained webs and strips through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound of said strips and thereby force said webs and compound into conformity with the full size and shape of the mold chamber and to vulcanize and bond said webs to said compound as an inseparable skin completely enveloping said strips.

14. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized rubbed bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, gen- 5 erating one or more continuous strips of sponge rubber compound at a first station, generating separate vertically spaced webs at second and third stations respectively, leading said strips away from said first station toward and past said '70 second and third stations in a path intermediate said vertically spaced webs,oleading the lower of said webs away from said second station in a path of travel beneath and paralleling the path of travel of said strips, leading the upper of said webs away from said third station and depositing said upper traveling web uponsaid traveling strips and depositing the latter upon said traveling lower web and depositing the latter upon the upward exposed face of a traveling mold, progressively forcing the upper web relatively near to said lower web along one or more lines lying in the direction of web travel and intermediate said strips, thereafter progressively roofing over said traveling mold to force said upper web into actual contact with said lower web along said lines and to closet mold chambers respectively larger than the combined volumes of said strips and webs, and moving said chambers in unison with their respectively contained webs and strips through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin ofsolid vulcanized rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, generating one or more continuous strips of sponge rubber compound at a first station, generating separate vertically spaced webs at second and third stations respectively, leading said strips away from said first station toward and past said second and third stations in a path intermediate said vertically spaced webs, leading the lower of said webs away from said second station in a path of travel beneath and paralleling the path of travel of said strips, combing said strips to straighten them and to separate them laterally to a definite uniform spacing throughout their lengths, depositing said upper traveling web upon said traveling strips and depositing the latter upon said traveling lower web and depositing the latter upon the upward exposed face of a traveling mold, progressively forcing the upper web into close proximity to said lower web along one or more lines lying in the direction of web travel and intermediate said strips, thereafter progressively roofing over said traveling mold to'complete mold chambers respectively larger than the combined volumes of said strips and webs, and moving said chambers in unison with their respectively contained webs and strips through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound of said strips and thereby force said webs and compound into conformity with full size and shape of the mold chamber and to vulcanize and bond said webs to said compound as an inseparable skin completely enveloping said strips.

16. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized rubber which includes the steps of generating continuous lengths of strips of sponge rubber compound at a first station, generating a web of non-blowing vulcanizable rubber at a second station, leading said strips away from said first station toward and past said second station, leading said web away from said second station in a path of travel above the path of travel of said strips and parallel therewith, progressively depositing said web onto said traveling strips and progressively depositing the latter side by side upon a traveling mold, armoring the top surface of said traveling web by progressively playing oif thereupon one or more ribbons of thin, tough, slippery, deformable, paper-like material along one or more lines extending in the direction of web travel laterally intermediate said strips, thereafter progressively roofing over said mold to form closed mold chambers larger than the combined volumes of said strip and web and in a manner to force said web downward toward said mold by progressively pressing downward on said self and onto said web a portion of said subribbon along one or more of said lines, and moving said chamber in unison with its contained web and strip through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound to fill the mold chamber therewith and to force the web into surface conformity with the mold chamber.

17. The method of producing unlimited lengths of uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strips covered with a skin of solid vulcanized rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, generating one or more continuous strips of sponge rubber compound, at a first station, generating separate vertically spaced webs at second and third stations respectively, leading said strips away from said first station toward and past saidsecond and third stations in a path intermediate said vertically spaced webs, leading the low- .er of said webs away from said second station in a path of travel beneath and paralleling the path of travel of said strips, combing said strips to straighten them and to separate them laterally to a definite uniform spacing throughout their lengths, leading the upper of said webs away from said third station and depositing said upper traveling web upon said traveling strips and depositing the latter upon said traveling lower web and depositing the latter upon the upward exposed face of a traveling mold, armoring the top surface of said traveling upper web by progressively playing of! thereupon one or more thin flexible tough ribbons along one or more lines extending in the direction of web travel laterally intermediate salid strips, progressively forcing the upper web into close proximity to said lower web along said lines by pressing downward on said ribbons, thereafter progressively roofing over said traveling mold to complete mold chambers respectively larger than the combined volumes of said strips and webs, and moving said chambers in unison with their respectively contained webs and strips through a zone of vulcanizing heat to expand the compound of said strips and thereby force said webs and compound into conformity with the full size and shape of the mold chamber and to vulcanize and bond said webs to said compound as an inseparable skin completely enveloping said strips.

18. The method of producing unlimited lengths of a uniformly vulcanized sponge rubber strip covered externally at least partially with a uni-,

formly vulcanized skin of solid rubber bonded thereto, which includes the steps of, leading a traveling strip of uncured sponge rubber compound into surface contact with a traveling web of stretchable uncured non-blowable rubber stock, progressively imprisoning said strip and web within a heated traveling mold chamber of greater size than said strip and web combined, thereby to cause said compound to expand and stretch said web sufilciently to fill said chamber and force said web into conformity with a portion of the chamber enclosing mold wall and to vulcanize said strip and web in bonded relationship as they travel in unison, coating with a powdered substance the top surface of a flexible belt traveling below and in close proximity to said web, and beating said belt in an upward direction to cause the former to throw oil from itstance.

19. Apparatus for converting ,multiple strips of sponge rubber compound and aweb of unvulcanized rubber stock into composite mimized strips having a mouse rubber body and a solid rubber facing, embodying in combination, means to produce simultaneously and continually multiple strips of sponge rubber compound of continuous unlimited length, an endless traveling belt disposed to convey said strips lengthwise and side by side, means to generate alower web of unvulcanized rubber stock of continuous unlimited length, a relay belt in series relation to said endless belt disposed to traveLunder said strips and operative to receive and transport said web in the direction of travel of said strips, traveling mold sections, and means to feed said strips and web simultaneously onto said mold sections with said strips superimposed-upon said we 20. Apparatus for converting multiple strips of sponge rubber compound and'a web of unvulcanized rubber stock into composite vulcanized strips having a sponge rubber body and a solid rubber facing, embodying in combination, means to produce simultaneously and continually multiple strips of sponge rubber compound of continuous unlimited length, an endless traveling belt disposed to convey said strips lengthwise and side by side, means to generate an upper web of unvulcanized rubber stock of continuous unlimited length, a relay belt in series relation to said endless belt disposed to travel over said strips and operative to receive and transport said web in the direction of travel of said strips, traveling mold sections forming traveling mold chambers, and means to feed said strips and web simultaneously into said mold chambers with said web superimposed upon said strips.

21. Apparatus 'for converting multiple strips of sponge rubber compound and multiple webs of unvulcanized rubber stock into composite vulcanized strips having a sponge rubber core en- 'veloped in a solid rubber skin, embodying in combination, means to produce simultaneously and continually multiple strips of sponge rubber compound of continuous unlimited length, an. endless traveling belt disposed to convey said strips lengthwise and side by side, means to convey said strips lengthwise and side by side, means to generate a lower web of unvulcanized rubber stock of continuous unlimited length, a relay belt in series relation to said endless belt disposed to travel under said strips and operative to receive and transport said lower web in the direction of travel of said strips, means to generate an upper web of unvulcanized rubber stock of continuous unlimited length, a relay belt in series relation to said endless belt disposed to travel above said strips operative to receive and transport said upper web in the direction of travel of said strips, means progressively to form a continuous furrow in said upper web between laterally adjacent strips until said webs unite between said strips thereby separately to envelope each individual strip, traveling mold sections forming traveling mold chambers, and means to feed said strips into said mold chambers while each strip is completely enveloped by said webs.

LUDOLF H. DE WYK, JR. 

